REMARKS
Council Member Salamanca explains voting items and secured commitments
0:01:10
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3 min
Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. provides an overview of the voting items, including the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal and the Port Authority Bus Terminal replacement project. He also announces $5 billion in commitments secured from the administration for various housing and infrastructure programs.
- Detailed modifications to the City of Yes proposal to address diverse neighborhood needs
- $5 billion in commitments: $2 billion for housing, $2 billion for infrastructure, $1 billion for increased agency capacity
- Approval of Port Authority Bus Terminal replacement project (LUs 185, 186, 187)
Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
0:01:10
Today, we will vote to approve the modifications, l u one eighty one, for the citywide tax amendment proposed by the administration known as the city of YES for housing opportunity.
0:01:19
As you know, the proposal seeks to address the city's real and ongoing housing crisis through a comprehensive update to the city's framework of zoning rules governing residential development.
0:01:30
Just before the start of this meeting and our zoning subcommittee, chair Riley discussed the council's modifications in detail, including our reasoning for making our proposed modifications.
0:01:39
A detailed summary of these modifications have been provided for committee members in your briefing documents and in the committee report and resolution for this proposal.
0:01:48
I won't repeat chair Riley's extended comments describing the modifications the council is making to the proposal, except to emphasize that the council's modifications are extended to respond to the wide range needs of our diverse neighborhoods all across the city.
0:02:03
We took our constituents' concerns, other serious consideration, and balanced these concerns against the very real need to respond to the housing crisis in this in the city in which the city is facing.
0:02:13
In addition to our text modifications for the proposal, I am pleased to also report that the council has been able to secure a wide range of commitments by the administration of $5,000,000,000 with $2,000,000,000 for housing programs, $2,000,000,000 for infrastructure, and $1,000,000,000 for increased agency capacity, which will include expanded opportunities for the creation of new affordable housing, together with the preservation of existing affordable housing with substantial funding commitments from the administration to achieve, 1, creating more deeply affordable housing, 2, supporting the expansion of affordable homeownership opportunities, including down payment assistance and help for existing homeowners, 3, existing strengthening affordable housing preservation, including substantial funding commitments to support NYCHA and Mitchell Lama developments, all of which are critical to the affordable housing, which hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers live in today.
0:03:07
We have also expanded funding for tenant protections.
0:03:11
Substantial funding for infrastructure enhancements throughout the city have been secured, including sewer upgrades and new improvements, including flood mitigation infrastructure, including green infrastructure.
0:03:22
These investments will be focused on the neighborhoods with the highest and more urgent need with the goal of ensuring the city's infrastructure is in good state of repair while also being able to absorb new growth.
0:03:34
Agency capacity will also be increased for additional staff to support the proposals the proposals we are voting on today, including the Department of Building and HPD staffing for inspections and enforcement and DCP for planning studies that support community driven neighborhood planning processes.
0:03:51
For more details for details of the funding and capital commitments the council has secure has secured from the administration, it will be posted on the council website.
0:03:59
Today, we will also be voting to approve our use 185, 186, and 187 for the Port Authority bus terminal replacement project in council member Batche's district in Manhattan.
0:04:09
The proposal includes a zoning text amendment, zoning special permit, and changes to the city map to facilitate the reconstruction of the midtown bus terminal and a future development of commercial building above the new terminal building.
0:04:21
At this time, I would like to welcome my colleagues who might wish to ask questions or make remarks.
0:04:27
Seeing none, I will now call for a vote with the support of the local council members to approve LUs 185, 186, and 180 7.
0:04:34
And to approve modifications, 181.
